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My dog bites my young cousin. How can I stop this aggression?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 4 years and 6 months old | 45 lbs

Why is my dog excessively aggressive towards my family members especially my little cousin who's just 2 years old? How can I stop my dog from growling and biting unnecessarily?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on March 18th, 2019

I hate to hear that about Jimmy. Aggression is a very complex problem and one that may be difficult to fix without a trainer. Aggression can be related to dominance, possessive behavior, fear or anxiety and each one needs to be addressed in a different fashion. The trainer will be able to determine the cause. The trainer will then work with you and your pet to modify both of your behaviors to meet a common goal. There are several different training methods so you will need to find the one that works best for you and your pup. You should also pick up a few books about dog behavior and dog training so that you can learn to recognize your pet’s body language. By knowing what he is saying, you be better able to react before he reacts. Neutering Jimmy can also help to reduce undesired behavior. I hope this at least points you in the right direction. Please post again with any further questions.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 23rd, 2020

    Unfortunately, it is difficult to advise in a situation like this because I cannot observe the body language. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Neutering Leo may help but it is not likely to completely fix the problem. Intact dogs are generally more aggressive than altered pets. Best of luck.

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